Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Arousal levels refer to the state of physiological and psychological activation or alertness of an individual. It is the degree to which a person feels awake, alert, and mentally engaged.
The ideal level of arousal for an individual's peak performance. Too much or too little arousal can negatively affect performance.
Inverted U-shaped Curve: According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal levels and performance. Performance improves with increasing arousal up to a certain point, after which further increases in arousal can lead to diminishing returns or even decline in performance.
A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances. High levels of stress can influence one's arousal levels and impact performance either positively or negatively depending on the situation.